Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Information & discussion on the Rhino Poaching Pandemic
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Lisbeth
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Lisbeth »

They do not look very professional.


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Peter Betts »

Lisbeth wrote: Sun Feb 02, 2020 10:15 am They do not look very professional.
Thats what Village Poachers look like ..not Hollywood Movie versions ..Rhino poaching with a .303 Lee Enfield Rifle =O: =O: =O: Like trying to kill an Impala with a feather Duster


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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What is this trial about -O-

https://zululandobserver.co.za/208330/r ... -progress/


Rhino trial progress
Tuesday’s resumption of the case, which was last in court in early December, saw former Hawks police officer Jean-Pierre van Zyl Roux telling the court how he acquired eight rhino horns from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to execute his 2014 sting operation which effected the arrest of Gwala and his co-accused Wiseman Makeba and Aubrey Dlamini (since deceased).
3 mins ago

Rhino poaching accused Dumisani Gwala's trial resumed in the Mtubatuba Regional Court on Tuesday
AFTER more than 30 postponements, the trial of rhino poaching accused Dumisani Gwala resumed in the Mtubatuba Regional Court this week.
Tuesday’s resumption of the case, which was last in court in early December, saw former Hawks police officer Jean-Pierre van Zyl Roux telling the court how he acquired eight rhino horns from Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife to execute his 2014 sting operation which effected the arrest of Gwala and his co-accused Wiseman Makeba and Aubrey Dlamini (since deceased).
Van Zyl Roux testified that he acquired the rhino horns without any paperwork.
He said that, owing to time constraints, he made a telephonic application to obtain the horns from Cedric Coetzee of Ezemvelo in early November 2014 and collected the horns from a Mr Pota at his residence near Midmar Dam outside Pietermaritzburg on 9 November.
He said no documents were given to him but he signed a register for the horns.
On cross-examination by defence lawyer Mpume Linda, Van Zyl Roux confirmed that he collected the horns without any permits authorising him to be in possession of rhino horns.
This despite a law prohibiting anyone from being in possession of a protected species, which includes rhino horn, without official permission.
He explained that as a police officer, he believed he was immune to that law as he was using the horns to perform his official duties.
He further explained that on 10 November 2014 Ezemvelo issued him with documentation proving his receipt of the eight rhino horns he had collected from the entity.
A former KZN Organised Crime Unit officer, Warrant Officer Van Zyl Roux told the court that his investigation was focusing mainly on Gwala, Mackson Chirwa and others whose names he had been given by his source.
Chirwa was then given the option of testifying in the case, which he reportedly declined to do.*
When Van Zyl Roux was asked about audio or video recordings of his first meeting with the accused, as he had stated in his application to former National Prosecuting Authority Gerrie Nel, he said his agents had been scared to record the meeting as it was held at night.
Gwala and Makeba face a total of 12 charges including numerous counts of the illegal trade and possession of rhino horn, resisting arrest and attempted murder.
Van Zyl Roux’s cross-examination continues today (Thursday).

*Late amendment: Chirwa, who was at no stage charged in the matter, was not in fact asked to testify


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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-O-


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa ... e-charges/?

crime 18.2.2020 09:56 am
Rhino poacher sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment on multiple charges
Citizen reporter


Jimmy Mashopane was arrested in January 2019 after he allegedly killed nine rhinos and also stole 14 rhino horns at the Sandveld Nature Reserve.
A 37-year-old man was sentenced to 24 years’ imprisonment at the Free State High Court on Thursday, 13 February following his arrest on multiple charges, including rhino poaching.

Judge Philip Loubser sentenced Jimmy Mashopane for the crimes he committed between July and December 2018.

He was arrested on 22 January 2019 after he allegedly killed nine rhinos and stole 14 rhino horns at the Sandveld Nature Reserve.

Mashopane travelled from Wintervelt, Gauteng, to commit these crimes, according to the evidence heard by the court.

Before his arrest, field rangers discovered nine carcasses between 29 July 2018 and 15 December 2018, resulting in them intensifying their patrols.

The police received information about two poachers entering the Sandveld Nature Reserve and followed their tracks until 800 metres outside the reserve where Mashopane was arrested after he was found near a tree and tried to escape.

Data found on Mashopane’s phone placed him in the proximity of the reserve when the crimes were committed.

State prosecutor advocate Antoinette Ferreira argued in court that the crimes were planned due to the trips Mashopane made from Wintervelt to kill the rhinos and take their horns.

“The accused travelled from Winterveld to Hoopstad just to kill the rhinos and take their horns. His criminal activities were motivated by greed. A sentence of direct imprisonment is the only option as it will deter other poachers from committing these crimes,” said Ferreira.

Judge Loubser took one count of rhino poaching, cruelty to animals and money laundering together for purpose of sentencing and handed down a sentence of a six-year jail term.

He further took the other nine counts of rhino poaching, five counts of theft, two counts of possession of ammunition, one count of possession of firearm and possession of a prohibited firearm and sentenced Mashopane to 18 years, making his sentence an effective 24 years in prison.


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Well done ^Q^


Next trip to the bush??

Let me think......................
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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\O \O \O


Please check Needs Attention pre-booking: https://africawild-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=322&t=596
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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

Post by Lisbeth »

First time that the court has been so fast. Maybe something is improving -O-

There are nine rhinos less though :-(


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Re: Rhino Poaching: Arrests, Prosecutions & Sentencing

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Man held at Saigon airport with six kg of rhino horns

By Quoc Thang March 7, 2020 | 10:01 pm GMT+7

Image

Customs officers at Saigon’s Tan Son Nhat Airport Friday seized 12 rhino horns weighing six kg brought by a passenger on a flight from Qatar’s Doha.
The 49-year-old man, whose name has not been revealed is a native of Quang Ninh Province in northern Vietnam. He has been detained for illegally transporting rare and endangered animals.

Customs officials found his actions suspicious and checked his luggage. The rhino horns were wrapped in aluminum foil and hidden in his luggage.

These horns came from double-horned rhinos in Africa, which are on the list of endangered, precious and rare wildlife species that are not allowed to be hunted, traded, stored or transported under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES).

Authorities said they are expanding the investigation. The man has not revealed why he had illegally transported the horns into Vietnam.

International conservation groups have identified Vietnam and China as the world's two major consumers of rhino horns, a charge the two countries have refuted.

Vietnam is a major consumer of rhino horns, with locals believing it has magical medical powers. The country is also transit point for elephant ivory as it heads to mostly Chinese and American consumers for making jewellery and home decorations

Vietnam has banned trade in rhino horns, elephant ivory and pangolins, but weak law enforcement has allowed a black market to flourish, supplying a global multi-billion-dollar industry with animal parts and exotic pets.


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